O'Brien's Castle (Inisheer)
| O'Briens Castle | |
|---|---|
| Native name Irish: Caisleán Uí Bhriain · Dún Formna | |
| Furmina Castle, The Great Fort | |
 | |
| Type | tower house within ringfort |
| Location | Inisheer, County Galway, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°03′43″N 9°31′09″W / 53.061999°N 9.519162°W |
| Built | c. 1400 |
| Owner | State |
| Official name | Furmina Castle |
| Reference no. | 41.07 |
  Location of O'Briens Castle in Ireland | |
O'Brien's Castle, also called Furmina Castle, is an early 15th century tower house and National Monument located on Inisheer, Ireland.[1][2][3][4]
Location[edit]
O'Brien's Castle is located at one of the island's highest points, in the north of Inisheer.[5]
History[edit]
A ringfort once stood on the site, named Dún Formna ("hillfort of the ridge/shoulder", referring to the "shoulder" of land)[6] and dated to between the 5th century BC and 1st century AD.[7][8][9]
The castle was built by the Clann Teige, a branch of the powerful O'Brien (Uí Briain) family, in the early 15th century around 1400.[10] It was taken by the Ó Flaithbheartaigh (O'Flahertys) around 1582. It was captured and slighted by Oliver Cromwell's army in 1652, during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.[11]
Building[edit]
The castle is a rectangular donjon (keep). The original doorway was into the first floor, accessed by an external wooden stairs.[citation needed]
The entire first floor was a great hall, with mural stairs up to the parapet. The ground floor was a basement or storage area with three vaulted chambers. The corbel of a bartizan is visible with a human face carved into it.[12]
References[edit]
- ^ "Inisheer Island | Aran Islands West of Ireland Vacations". www.discoveringireland.com.
- ^ Steves, Rick; O'Connor, Pat (29 May 2018). "Rick Steves Best of Ireland". Avalon Publishing – via Google Books.
- ^ Vaughan-Thomas, Wynford; Hales, Michael (25 September 1980). "Secret landscapes: mysterious sites, deserted villages, and forgotten places of Great Britain and Ireland". Select Editions – via Google Books.
- ^ "Country Life". 25 May 1969 – via Google Books.
- ^ Badger, Edward W.; Hillhouse, William (25 September 1890). "The Midland Naturalist: The Journal of the "Midland Union of Natural History Sciences" with which is Incorporated the Entire Transaction of the Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society". Hardwicke and Bogue – via Google Books.
- ^ "eDIL – Irish Language Dictionary". www.dil.ie.
- ^ Spellissy, Sean (1 January 1999). "The history of Galway". Celtic Bookshop – via Google Books.
- ^ "The Mystery of the Aran Islands- Dún Formna". aran-islands-tsunami-shelters.com.
- ^ "O'Brien's Castle | Inisheer, Ireland Inisheer". www.lonelyplanet.com.
- ^ Murray (publishers), John (25 September 1866). "Handbook for travellers in Ireland" – via Google Books.
- ^ "OBriens Castle – Doolin Ferry – Aran Island Ferries – BOOK NOW".
- ^ "An Caisleán / O'Briens Castle » Rothaí Inis Oírr – Inisheer Bike Hire".